Share “U.S. consumers add more debt for cars,...”

U.S. consumers add more debt for cars, education

U.S. consumers took on more debt in November to buy cars and attend school, but stayed cautious with their credit cards.

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER •
Published: January 9, 2013

Advertisement

WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers took on more debt in November to buy cars and attend school but stayed cautious with their credit cards.

A cashier rings up a cash sale at a Sears store in Las Vegas in November. U.S. consumers borrowed more in November to buy cars and attend school, but stayed cautious with their credit cards, the Federal Reserve said Tuesday. AP PHOTO Julie Jacobson - AP

The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that consumers increased their borrowing in November by $16 billion from October to a seasonally adjusted record of $2.77 trillion.

The sharp difference in the borrowing gains illustrates a broader trend that began during the Great Recession. Four years ago, Americans carried $1.03 trillion in credit card debt, an all-time high. In November, that figure was 16.5 percent lower.

At the same time, student loan debt has increased dramatically. The category that includes auto and student loans is 22.8 percent higher than in July 2008. Many Americans who have lost jobs have gone back to school to get training for new careers.

The November increase also reflected further gains in auto sales, which grew 13.4 percent in 2012 to top 14 million units for the first time in five years. The need to replace vehicles destroyed by Superstorm Sandy may have contributed to the gain.